Grand jury to probe Florida cop in fatal shooting of black man

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 27 (Reuters) - A Florida
prosecutor's investigation into a police officer who shot dead
black musician Corey Jones was inconclusive, leading him to
withhold criminal charges and instead turn the case over to a
grand jury.

State Attorney Dave Aronberg of Palm Beach County told a
news conference on Wednesday that prosecutors would hand over
evidence from their investigation of fired police officer Nouman
Raja to the grand jury to decide whether to press charges.

The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office and the FBI are also
investigating the case, one in a series of fatal incidents
across the country involving police and black men that have
raised questions about the excessive use of force.

The Jones case sparked further outrage after police revealed
the officer was in plainclothes and never showed a badge before
shooting.

Aronberg said his office interviewed 230 people in more than
30 states and three countries and that his entire investigation
would be made public once the case was over.

"If unresolved issues exist and a close-out memorandum
cannot be issued, then our protocol is to take the matter to the
grand jury," Aronberg said.

A close-out memorandum would have cleared the officer of
wrongdoing.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police fired Raja, 38, from the force
nearly a month after the Oct. 18 shooting of Jones, 31, an
amateur drummer who worked as a building inspector and assistant
property inspector for the Delray Beach Housing Authority.

Jones' family said in a statement "we are leery of the grand
jury process" and that it would remain vigilant.

"While we are pleased to learn that the officer who
senselessly killed our Corey will face a grand jury for his
reckless act, we understand that nothing can bring back our son,
brother and friend. Our goal now as a family is to ensure that
this never happens to another innocent citizen," the statement
said.

The grand jury was expected to reach a decision on charges
before its term ends on June 30, officials said.

Jones was waiting for a tow truck beside a highway off-ramp
in the early hours of the morning when Raja pulled up in an
unmarked van. A confrontation ensued and Raja fired six shots
hitting Jones three times, authorities said.

Jones never fired the .380 caliber handgun recovered at the
scene, investigators said. He had a concealed permit for the
gun, which he had purchased legally three days earlier.
(Reporting by Zachary Fagenson; editing by Daniel Trotta and
Alan Crosby)